Cats: Meloxicam

(asked on 11th May 2021) - View Source

Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the US Food and Drug Administration including boxed warning labels on Metacam (Meloxicam) due to the risks associated with acute renal failure and death in cats, what steps they are taking to ensure similar warnings are in place on all boxes of Metacam sold to vets in the UK.


Answered by
Lord Benyon Portrait
Lord Benyon
Minister of State (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)
This question was answered on 25th May 2021

There are three Metacam products authorised for use in cats in the UK:

- Metacam 5 mg/ml solution for injection for dogs and cats

- Metacam 2mg/ml solution for injection for cats

- Metacam 0.5 mg/ml oral suspension for cats and guinea pigs

All three products already include warnings relating to renal failure and therefore veterinary surgeons in the UK are aware of the risk of renal failure with the use of Metacam in cats.

In 2019, the marketing authorisation holder for Metacam was requested to provide an analysis of all cases of renal failure and death in cats. The company provided data comparing the use of the product and the frequency of cases in the United States (US) with those in the EU. This demonstrated a significantly higher incidence of off-label use (use of the product not in accordance with the product information), renal failure and fatalities in the US compared with the EU. Vets are allowed to use veterinary medicinal products off-label in certain circumstances. However, the Metacam data does not indicate that the incidence of such use is as prevalent in the EU or the UK as in the US. It was concluded that vets in the EU and UK were already aware of the risks of renal failure with off-label use and the product information included sufficient warnings relating to the correct use and associated risks. The company was requested to continue specifically to monitor cases of renal failure in cats.

Based on a review of the data over the past 10 years, the incidence of renal failure in the UK following use of Metacam in cats has gradually decreased from one in 200,000 to one in a million, supporting the view that vets are now even more aware of the risks associated with off-label use.

The Veterinary Medicines Directorate will continue to consider the scientific evidence to inform further action as required and the consistency of product information and warnings for all meloxicam products.

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